As well as museums, Alicante also has a great monumental heritage. Examples include: Santa Bárbara Castle overlooking the Mediterranean atop Mount Benacantil and providing unrivalled sea views; the Santa María Church, a 14th century Gothic temple that houses a priceless documental and artistic collection whose oldest piece is an incunable dating back to the 13th century; the San Nicolás Co-cathedral in the city’s historic quarter, which is a church used as a cathedral and a clear example of Spanish Enlightment from the first half of the 18th century; the Town Hall, an 18th century baroque-style palace interesting in that it houses the reference point for measuring the height above sea level of any place in Spain which is known as “cota cero”, and can be found on the first step of the building’s main staircase; and the Santa Faz Monastery just 5 kilometres outside the city centre, which is home to a relic brought from the Vatican in the 15th century, which, according to popular tradition, is part of a veil that Veronica used to wipe the bloodied face of Christ on his way to Calvary.

Alicante, Iglesia parroquial de Muchamiel

From Santa Bárbara Castle, visitors can walk down to the historic quarter, where most of these buildings are to be found along the route that runs through the Ereta Park, on the same side of the mountain, via the typical picturesque neighbourhood of Santa Cruz.

To avoid the steep path that links Santa Bárbara Castle to the bottom of Mount Benacantil, another option is to walk along the remains of the walls that used to surround the castle and now end at the hermitage in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood.